Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Nissan leaf. While driving 55 MPH down a mountain, there was insufficient braking ability and the vehicle was uncontrollable. Additionally, the hill descent assist failed to engage. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to valley Nissan of staunton (297 lee jackson hwy, staunton, virginia 24401, (540) 213-9600) where it was diagnosed that…
2011 Nissan Leaf brakes problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 20 brakes complaints filed for the 2011 Nissan Leaf, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Nissan Leaf in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Brakes accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
While braking lightly and not sudden to turn into a shopping center, the leaf applied full brakes and did not release the brakes until the car was going about 10 MPH. *tr
The brakes go from a soft braking to a jolting stop at speeds below 20 MPH. I have small children in the car, and their heads are being jolted around when the car brakes this way. I am concerned this will be a problem on slick roads and I'm worried about being rear-ended when it stops so suddenly. It does this everyday that I drive it, however the dealership can find nothing wrong with the…
While in a lineup of cars at a stop sign intersection, I had to start and stop repeatedly, as each car moved forward. Very soon, the brakes developed a jerky response, grabbing and releasing. So the car was lurching forward and jerking to a stop. It was quite embarrassing, and the car behind me nearly rear-ended me. This was the first occurrence, and the same thing has happened several times…
Had brakes trouble with your 2011 Nissan Leaf?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2011 Nissan Leaf?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 4,500 and 35,500 miles, with the median around 15,677. A quarter of owners report trouble before 4,500; a quarter make it past 35,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Nissan/Leaf.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.